Click to Enlarge Image Quality: Shoot handheld at 1/15 sec? Exactly what our Art/ Production Assistant Linzee Karasik did to test out the image stabilization of the E-520, fitted with the 14–42mm kit lens. Fine detail and shadow-to-highlight gradation, too, in this shot, taken at f/22 and ISO 400.
LIVELIER LIVE VIEW
The live view is easy to access and use. Just hit the display button, and the mirror flips up and a live image appears on the LCD. Opt for camera status readouts overlaid on the image, or a live histogram, or a plain screen. Switching among them requires just a button press. Change white balance or exposure comp, and you can see the effect live. Switch the display another notch, and view comparison thumbnails for those settings.
The E-520 has three methods for autofocusing in live view, as well as manual focus. You can use the conventional AF sensors with a momentary flip down of the mirror. You can prefocus with the focus lock button. Or just press the shutter button fully, and the camera focuses, takes the shot, and resumes live view. This creates a delay of only about half a second -- not bad.
You also can autofocus with contrast detection by the sensor at one of 11 points covering about 2/3 of the frame. This can be slow, particularly in low light, where it can take several seconds. When you shoot, there's again about a halfsecond delay while the shutter closes and reopens for the actual exposure.
And there's hybrid AF, in which, Olympus says, the AF sensors "touch up" the focus initially made by contrast detection. It's also a method of keeping both AF systems on: A half-press of the shutter button focuses by contrast detection, and a press of the focus lock button flips the mirror and uses the AF sensors. A full press of the shutter does both -- and takes the shot.
Want more? Face detection finds a face anywhere in the 11-point area. Contrastdetection AF takes its time, so this isn't the best way to photograph kids. With normal viewing, it engages one of the three AF points closest to a face.
We wish the E-520 had the tilting, swiveling LCD of the E-3. But with its 170- degree viewing angle, you can compose high- and low-angle shots well in live view.
STEADY AND IN CONTROL
The E-520's image stabilization adds a unique capability to sensor-shift systems: Panning stabilization that works with the camera held horizontally (racecars) or vertically (rollerbladers).
We tested the IS at focal lengths of 100mm (200mm equivalent with the 2X lens factor of the Four Thirds system) and at 200mm (400mm equivalent). At 100mm, our testers averaged 2 to 3 stops of extra handheld leeway; at 200mm, 1 to 3 stops. So we got acceptably sharp results at 1/13 sec at 100mm, and 1/25 sec at 200mm! This is great performance, and it works with any lens you can put on the camera.
The sensor of the E-520 was updated to improve dynamic range, and there are several ways to exploit this. Shadow Adjustment Technology (SAT) brings up shadow detail. You can also apply SAT to a JPEG after the shot, and it engages automatically when you use face detection. But it also brings up noise at higher ISOs, so we recommend it only at lower ISOs. If you need to use high ISOs, set noise reduction to Standard or High, trading some resolution. The E-520 can also be set to produce high-key or low-key gradations.
Besides white-balance presets and the custom setting, you can set WB in Kelvin degrees and tweak it using two-axis slider controls. In addition, there are five image profiles for JPEGs (Vivid, Natural, Muted, Portrait, Monochrome) -- or you can custom-design one of your own and adjust the individual parameters.
RAW files can be converted to JPEGs in the camera using these settings and profiles, but it's awkward. Unlike some cameras that let you preview adjustments before processing, the E-520 applies the current settings of the camera to the new JPEG. So if you want to process a RAW file with different settings, you have to change the camera settings, then do the conversion blind. Sure, you can look at the new JPEG and see if you like it, then change the settings if you need to. (Just remember to change your settings back to where you started before shooting again.)
BOTTOM LINE
For a Four Thirds system enthusiast, the Olympus E-520 is a no-brainer -- you get much of the performance and controls of the flagship E-3 for nearly $1,000 less. And uncommitted photographers would do well to look at the bang for that rock-bottom price: Excellent imaging across the board, very effective image stabilization, live view with clever setting previews, and a slew of useful picture fixes, wrapped in a nicehandling, ergonomic body. It's enough to wipe the ho-hum off anyone's face.
Editor's note: Due to an editing error, we had initially reported that the E-520 has weather seals. It does not.
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